Category: Healthy Recipes

The health benefits of lemon include treatment of throat infections, indigestion, constipation, dental problems, and fever, internal bleeding, rheumatism, burns, obesity, respiratory disorders, cholera and high blood pressure, while it also benefits hair and skin care. Known for its therapeutic property since generations, lemon helps to strengthen your immune system, cleanse your stomach, and it is considered a blood purifier.

Lemon juice, especially, has several health benefits associated with it. It is well known as a useful treatment for kidney stones, reducing strokes and lowering body temperature. As a refreshing drink, lemonade helps you to stay calm and cool.

The health benefits of lemons are due to its many nourishing elements like vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin E, folate, niacin thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and protein. Lemon is a fruit that contains flavonoids, which are composites that contain antioxidant and cancer fighting properties. It helps to prevent diabetes, constipation, high blood pressure, fever, indigestion and many other problems, as well as improving the skin, hair, and teeth. Studies conducted at the American Urological Association highlight the fact that lemonade or lemon juice can eliminate the occurrence of kidney stones by forming urinary citrate, which prevents the formation of crystals.

Rosemary

Health Perks

While grilling and sautéing require little to no added fat, cooking at high temps produces compounds called heterocyclic amines, which are harmful free radicals that may cause cancer, explains Hannah El-Amin, RD, a dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Luckily, marinating meat in a mixture made with rosemary before firing it up prevents the formation of heterocyclic amines by as much as 84 percent, a study at Kansas State University found.

How to Use It

Combine two tablespoons of olive oil; one-half cup of lemon juice; half a garlic clove, minced; and one tablespoon of rosemary to make a marinade for chicken or steak.

Mix together equal parts rosemary, thyme, and oregano, and rub the mixture directly onto chicken breasts, suggests Limor Baum, a registered dietitian in New York City.

Health Perks

The starring role in this blend of herbs and spices belongs to turmeric, which contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory “that’s 50 times more potent than vitamin C or E,” says Bharat Aggarwal, PhD, a professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the author of Healing Spices. In fact, one study shows that curcumin inhibits the growth of certain breast cancer cells, and other research suggests it may also protect against stomach and colon cancer.

While the quintessential pairing of ripe tomatoes and lettuce is certainly enjoyable, a good salad can be so much more. Adding fruits, nuts, and other well-chosen ingredients offers a welcome change. More importantly, incorporating a few more nutritious ingredients is an easy way to serve a more healthful dish.

Make sure to see our gallery for power ingredients you can add to boost the nutritional benefits―not to mention the flavor, texture, and variety―of your salads. Then try these recipes for robust salads that will satisfy your palate as well as your dietary needs.

Tips to save time

This Queso goes great with the vegan and gluten free nacho recipe that is further down in this post!

To save some time I cut out part of the first step (of the queso recipe) about letting the eggplant sit in the colander for 15 minutes. It may be because I am already in the dry desert, but it still turned out delicious!

All together it takes me about 20-30 minutes to make these vegan and gluten free nachos for the family. I must say, it is an absolute hit and really tastes like the real thing. I even add a little bit of my own favorite spices to top off the flavor of the queso. (salt, pepper,garlic powder, onion powder).

Make this Caprese Chicken and Roasted Broccoli recipe for dinner tonight!

Want to enjoy a low-carb dinner? Make this simple caprese chicken, which marries the fresh flavors of a caprese salad with a dose of lean protein. Ripe tomatoes, tangy balsamic and fragrant basil are a yummy ways to dress up your lean chicken breast. Serve with a side of roasted broccoli.